Jul 22, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) celebrates with Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) after the game against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Good morning.
Evan Grant writes that the Texas Rangers have done the heavy lifting as far as winter roster moves, but there are still a handful of budget free agents that could make sense ahead of spring training.
At The Athletic, Jim Bowden grades each club’s offseason moves and hands out passing marks to the Rangers for their offseason maneuvering.
Matt Snyder ranks and grades the free agent shortstop signings from recent years where Corey Seager’s deal with Texas lands at No. 1. Winning the World Series as World Series MVP will do that.
And, Russell Dorsey checks out the upcoming top spring training storylines for each team with the hunt to get back to October being the theme for Texas this year.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 18: Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles against Norman Powell #24 of the Miami Heat during the first half at Barclays Center on December 18, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Michael Porter Jr. is averaging 25.6 points and 3.2 assists, both career-highs. Throw in his seven rebounds a night and the fact that he is true-shooting 61.8% (+3.8% over league-average) on a team devoid of other high-end talent, and it seems like an ironclad All-Star case.
Not so. The NBA announced the full list of All-Star reserves on Sunday afternoon; Porter Jr. did not make the cut. Nearly three weeks after NBA PR released full voting results for All-Star starters, it came as a bit of a surprise. In that round of voting, MPJ was firmly inside the cut line among players, fans, and media. Reminder: for all the silliness of the All-Star game format this season, the selection process remains unchanged, and a dozen players from each conference are selected…
Courtesy: NBA PR
The coaches, however, are responsible for selecting the reserves, and they did not deem MPJ worthy of his first All-Star appearance. They did not heed the words of peer Jordi Fernández: “We’ve competed for a lot of games, and he’s a big reason why we’re there. He’s just doing his job, and it’s not about him; it’s about the group. So if you think about his impact on competitiveness, that’s what All-Stars do, and that’s why Mike should be there.”
So, was MPJ a snub? Well, we can’t say that without examining the rest of the field…
The Locks
Donovan Mitchell
Jalen Johnson
Jalen Duren
Scottie Barnes
Though 25 points a night ain’t what it used to be, it’s still a steep hill to climb. No 25 PPG scorer (over a full season) has missed the All-Star game since 2017, when Damian Lillard and Karl-Anthony Towns both fell victim to statflation. Of course, MPJ’s averages may fall in March and April, but his scoring output is typically All-Star worthy, even in today’s day and age.
That being said, Porter Jr. was firmly behind these four players in the All-Star race. Only Mitchell is out-scoring Porter, but the other three are simply too impactful on teams much better than the Nets (yes, even the Atlanta Hawks). Moving on.
The Questionables
Pascal Siakam
After a deep-dive, I almost put Pascal Siakam in the category above. The two have similar arguments despite being on 13-win teams, but Siakam is just a little easier to buy.
Brooklyn’s net rating is 11 points per 100 possessions better when MPJ is on the floor; that’s the eighth-highest mark in the NBA (min. 700 minutes). Pascal Siakam is one of the seven guys ahead of MPJ on that list, and crucially, he’s played nine more games (and 338 more minutes) than Brooklyn’s leading scorer. The Indiana Pacers are absolutely horrific — even worse than the Nets — without Siakam, but respectable with him.
If they had played the same amount of minutes, Siakam and MPJ would be neck-and-neck. Siakam is averaging a comparable 24/7/4, on similar usage, but with a 56.4 TS%. However, he has an edge on defense, and though I doubt the coaches went this far down the rabbit hole, Siakam has been considerably better in the clutch.
Siakam: 8-14 record in clutch games, 52.1% true shooting.
Porter Jr.: 4-15 record in clutch games, 45.2% true shooting.
The case for Porter Jr. rests on his production for a terrible team, hoping not to be punished for the lack of talent around him. Well, Siakam has been as good if not better, played more minutes, and if we’re really going to dive into their impact on winning, Siakam has been better in the clutch for a team that has a better clutch record.
Norman Powell
If Norman Powell and Michael Porter Jr. magically swapped places, the latter would have made the All-Star game. Is that right? Must the Miami Heat — 27-24, sitting atop the Play-In sect of the Eastern Conference — be rewarded with an All-Star?
Powell is having a great season, no doubt. He’s averaging about 24/4/3 on 61.2% true shooting as the unquestioned leader of a Heat offense that was hyped early in the season for their blinding pace and refusal to set ball-screens. Powell has been firing catch-and-shoot threes per usual, but he’s been getting his own too.
Here’s the thing. The Miami Heat have the NBA’s 17th-best offensive rating and the 6th-best defensive rating. Defense drives them. Yes, Powell has been not just great but vital to Miami’s offense, particularly with Tyler Herro playing just 11 games. However…
Miami: 111.9 offensive rating without Powell, 117.4 with Powell (+5.5 swing).
Brooklyn: 105.4 offensive rating without MPJ, 117.5 with MPJ (+12.1 swing).
The Heat have a tough time scoring (and a slightly easier time defending) without Powell, who leads them to decent offense. The Nets have an horrific offense without Porter Jr., who leads them to decent offense. Credit Jordi Fernández for his creativity if you want, but you can’t vote head coaches to the All-Star team.
Porter Jr. has scored more at a more efficient clip. He’s also created more offense for his teammates, whether you only look at assist numbers or also factor in how his gravity as a shooter opens up cuts for others. No doubt Norman Powell has had similar offensive impact for a much better team, but has he been better than MPJ (in 60 more total minutes)? Not quite.
Karl-Anthony Towns
If the All-Star game were about rewarding year-over-year improvements, Karl-Anthony Towns wouldn’t be making the trip to Los Angeles. He’s been substantially worse than last season, converting twos at a career-low rate and making threes at the lowest clip since his rookie season. Per Cleaning the Glass (which filters out garbage time), the Knicks have actually been slightly better with him on the bench. After a stellar inaugural campaign in NYC, this is a clear step back for KAT.
But he’s still a great player. He’s averaging 20-and-12, leading the league in rebounds per game. Because New York rebounds when he’s on the court, their defense survives; they don’t stop opponents on first chances. While he’s struggling to make shots, opponents still respect his 3-point shooting, a necessary ingredient to New York’s offense.
Has he been better than Michael Porter Jr., though? I don’t think so.
Now that he’s no longer operating with world-class efficiency, KAT has less margin for error on defense. Again, he’s not an outright negative on that end thanks to his rebounding, but because he does little else well at such a premium position, it’s tough to argue his defense has made him a better player than MPJ this season. Especially when…
KAT: 23.33 points per 75 possessions on 59.4% true shooting (+1.4% relative to league-average), 1.15 assist-to-turnover, 25.8 usage%, +0.22 net swing.
MPJ: 28.95 points per 75 possessions on 61.8% true shooting (+3.8% rTS), 1.30 assist-to-turnover, 30.6 usage%, +11.0 net swing.
Jalen Brunson is the head of the snake in New York. I don’t want to be so reductive as to say any #1 option is better than any #2 option (that’s First Take stuff) but in the case of Michael Porter Jr. vs. Karl-Anthony Towns, it’s clear the latter has been better on offense. Yes, KAT has played about 160 more minutes, but I don’t think minutes + defense are enough to close the gap.
And hey, Pascal Siakam is in the All-Star game. Team success only means so much this year. Advantage: MPJ.
What happened, what’s next?
Erik Slater and I talked about MPJ’s All-Star snub on the latest episode of Locked On Nets…
I would love to avoid homer-ism and call it an “exclusion” and not a “snub” but it’s not my fault the head coaches made the wrong call. If Siakam is in, MPJ should be in. Not because he’s been better than Siakam (he hasn’t, in my opinion), but because it removes the barrier of team success from the equation.
Did something change in the last three weeks, or did the coaches just have far different opinions than players/fans/media? The Nets have suffered some embarrassing blowouts recently, but was that enough to swing opinion? Have Siakam, KAT, and Powell — all in their thirties — just built up that much more goodwill around the league? Or is the Nets’ reputation/brand simply at the bottom of the totem pole?
Whatever the case may be, Porter Jr. still has a chance to be named an All-Star by the commissioner. With Giannis Antetokounmpo set to miss the weekend’s festivities with injury, Adam Silver must select one Eastern Conference reserve to replace him (and, knock on wood, anybody else who gets hurt over the next week or two).
But MPJ may be a victim of timing. Joel Embiid has played just 28 games, but he’s going God Mode right now. LaMelo Ball also has a strong case for a surging Charlotte Hornets team, and like Embiid, has much more name recognition than MPJ.
Michael Porter Jr.’s next chance to get through to Adam Silver will come on Tuesday evening, when the Brooklyn Nets take on the Los Angeles Lakers at home. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 29: Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves wears a shirt that says "Stand With Minnesota" during the national anthem prior to the start of the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center on January 29, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Thursday night in Dallas looked like one in which the Minnesota Timberwolves were going to play all the hits.
Near double-digit favorites on the road against a severely shorthanded Dallas Mavericks team, anyone who’s followed this team close enough over the last two seasons probably could have predicted how things were going to go.
Dallas Injury Report 1/28 | Mavs PR
With so many players out that Mavs PR needed two tweets in a thread to make sure everyone was accounted for, the Wolves came out of the gate with their typical lackadaisical energy, familiar to fans when they play teams they have no excuse to lose to.
Whether it was poor ball containment, bad closeouts on shots, or poor rebounding by the frontcourt, it was clear that once again, the Wolves were short on sources of energy.
But with 2:44 left in the first quarter, in came Joan Beringer.
A big man that plays basketball like the athletic guy who plays another sport in high school, the Wolves first round pick immediately came in and provided a shot in the arm that seemed to wake up others around him.
Down two points when Beringer entered the game, he went to work. Gliding up and down the floor, the seventeenth overall pick immediately pulled in an offensive rebound that resulted in a Mike Conley three, and ended the first quarter with a well-timed alley-oop from Anthony Edwards.
The Wolves would go on to win the game by 13 points.
As for Beringer? Second on the team with a +11.
Perhaps the Wolves would go on to win without him in the lineup purely due to the talent imbalance on the floor alone.
But perhaps not. With several frustrating performances against subpar teams year after year, Chris Finch finds himself in a spot of continuous searching for someone to pull them out of their lulls of disenchantment. With the usual suspects in the starting five not tending to be takers unless a wave of desperation comes upon them late in the game or in the form of a losing streak, a bench of mixed bag performances is sometimes where he’s forced to go.
I think it’s been found.
MEMPHIS, TN – JANUARY 31: Joan Beringer #19 of the Minnesota Timberwolves drives to the basket during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on January 31, 2026 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
A Feel on the Floor
Like an attacking midfielder on the pitch, the French rookie’s background in playing soccer gives him a clear understanding of floor positioning.
Even though he hasn’t been playing basketball for very long, his experience proves effective navigation of the dunker area on the offensive end, and good drop coverage and shot blocking instincts on the defensive end.
Many times, rookies come into the league behind the eight ball in the NBA from a positioning standpoint because of how structured the college game is schematically, juxtaposed to a more free-flowing pro game. For a team like the Timberwolves who have always tended to lean towards the latter, Beringer’s feel for the game was something that has caught coach Chris Finch’s eye.
“It’s something I noticed about him right away,” he said after a blowout win against the Golden State Warriors on Monday. “At Summer League, I always thought he kinda knew where to be…his spacing, his timing, and he’s actually been a pretty quick learner [in learning the Wolves’ systems].”
It shows in the advanced numbers.
Out of the 13 people Beringer has shared the floor with, he only has a negative net rating with four of them (Joe Ingles, Leonard Miller, Rob Dillingham, and Terrence Shannon Jr.), making him and an additive to most of the lineup combos he finds himself on the floor with in a small sample size.
“He’s a big energy guy, and he helps tremendously,” Naz Reid said after the win in Dallas. “[He gave us a lift] on the glass, blocking shots, catching lobs, that’s what he does.”
There’s something to be said about a percolating chemistry with Reid and Beringer. More importantly, the lift that the rookie’s presence can have with both Reid and a struggling Mike Conley on the floor together.
Hesitant to be taken off the floor by Chris Finch due to his ability to cover ground of defense and bring a mature offensive approach, Mike Conley has been a source of skepticism among fans for his lackluster play this season and inability to generate the offensive lift that he once did. His decline has been steep, but his presence on the floor next to Reid and Beringer has given a sense of optimism in a small sample size.
With all three on the floor together, the Wolves have an 11 net rating.
A similar tale unfolds with Beringer on the floor with Conley and Reid separately as well.
Lineup combination net rating for Mike Conley, Naz Reid, and Joan Beringer | PBP Stats
Simply, Beringer provides the characteristics that Wolves’ bench currently lacks, said perfectly by Reid.
Rebounding, blocking shots, catching lobs, and bringing energy.
To some degree, it’s the Jarred Vanderbilt effect.
On the floor, it’s a shot in the arm.
DALLAS, TEXAS – JANUARY 28: Head coach Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves watches play during the first quarter of the game against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on January 28, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Energy Solution
It doesn’t matter who it is, but essentially every player has said it at some point during the season.
This Wolves team, alongside the two that have come before it, tends to come out with an energy level that corresponds to the level of the opponent and the time of year it is.
Some tend to blame this on Chris Finch. I find that misguided.
Finch can only do so much. Confirmed by Anthony Edwards after the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday, his unhappiness with the effort was unable to throw on a jersey and run up and down the floor with the five people out there.
“Nights like this, it’s super hard to find the, not the why, but the energy to put behind it on every play,” Edwards said. “[Finch] said somethin’ like, ‘I’m not gonna let up on y’all. If we bullshit on games like this, I’m gonna be on y’all ass until y’all stop bullshitting’.”
Anthony Edwards said Chris Finch got into the team at halftime and after the game. Ant said, "yeah, he wasn't happy about this win at all".
Asked Edwards about the Wolves' pattern of needing Finch to get into them for the energy and effort to be there against lesser opponents.… pic.twitter.com/usH7qLgqij
Whether it be Edwards, Naz Reid, Conley, Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, or even Jaden McDaniels, everyone has called out the inconsistent energy on both ends of the floor.
The one person who doesn’t care who’s on the other end is Beringer. His ability to flip a switch and make plays that others don’t want to make, and at key points of what seem to be inconsequential games, make himself a lever that Finch needs to pull more consistently.
Whether it be his career-high 13 points on the road in Milwaukee with no Rudy Gobert, his immediate injection of life in Dallas, or his near double-double on the road in San Antonio, his youthful ignorance of who’s on the other end and at what point of the season it is inject urgency into the lineup – or make it an embarrassing discrepancy of effort for all to see.
Whether it be for film sessions or fan viewing, it needs to be an audit we see more often.
INGLEWOOD, CA - JANUARY 25: James Harden #1 and Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers looks on during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on January 25, 2026 at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The NBA announced their final selections for the All Star game last night. Here are all the selections.
Which begs the obvious question: Who were the snubs?
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are some players that were NOT named to the All Star team (in no particular order):
Michael Porter Jr.
Joel Embiid
Kawhi Leonard
James Harden
Josh Giddey
Alperen Sengun
Brandon Ingram
Keyonte George
Lauri Markkanen
Tre Murphy
…and of course Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.
Now remember the rules of this sort of thing. If you are going to call a guy snubbed, you have to name the player(s) you would remove from the squad to make room! (cough-cough-LeBron-cough)
So what are your thoughts? Who belongs on this team and who shouldn’t be on there in the first place?
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 24: Colton Cowser #17 of the Baltimore Orioles runs to third base during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 24, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just about every member of the 2025 Orioles either underperformed or got injured. Colton Cowser did both, souring what could have been a breakout season. Reports indicate that Cowser will enter 2026 fully healthy, and seems poised to take on the center field job full-time. The Orioles are betting on a bounce back from the former fifth overall pick.
Let’s not forget that Cowser had a pretty great rookie season in 2024. Over 153 games he hit .242/.321/.768 with 24 home runs, 52 walks, and 172 strikeouts. He swung and missed a lot, but made up for it with his ability to take a walk, hit home runs, and play high-end defense. As a result, he finished second in Rookie of the Year voting.
The Orioles went into 2025 with Cowser as their lead-off hitter, a somewhat forced decision following Gunnar Henderson’s injury. But it didn’t seem like Cowser was terribly miscast in the role. He had demonstrated a keen eye at the plate, had enough pop to keep the defense honest, and was rather quick on the bases.
But just days into the new season, Cowser went down with his first injury of the year. Trying to beat out an infield hit in Toronto, Cowser dove head-first towards first base. His thumb went the wrong way, resulting in a fracture that put him on the shelf until early June. This injury to his left hand came just six months after he broke that same hand in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series, swinging at a pitch that actually hit him.
The final IL stint of the year for Cowser came in August. That is when he missed 11 days due to concussion symptoms, which stemmed from a play in Philadelphia a few days prior. His symptoms were reported as a “mild,” but the Orioles took precautions.
Looking at Cowser’s splits for the year is rather brutal. The only month of positive production came in June, when he hit .250/.310/.550 with six home runs, 14 RBI, four walks, and 25 strikeouts over 22 games. His OPS for every other month was .594 or worse, and his batting average never got above .210 in any other month.
The best Cowser looked was immediately following the three games he sat after fracturing his ribs. From June 16 through 27, he slashed .314/.385/.714 in a span of 10 games. For a few days that pushed his season OPS above .800 and had him looking like the 2024 version of himself.
But that moment was fleeting, and it was a steep decline from there. From June 28 through the end of the year Cowser slashed .180/.257/.336 and struck out 100 times in 69 games. Although he was 13-for-13 on stolen base attempts and walked at a decent clip in that stretch.
Cowser’s nightmarish season had some members of the Orioles fan base asking questions about his future. The team had Tyler O’Neill signed to a big-money deal. Dylan Beavers was emerging from Triple-A. And then early on in the offseason the team went and traded for Taylor Ward. Seemingly, there were too many corner outfielders for not enough spots on the big league roster.
At the same time, the O’s continued their years-long search for a “frontline” starting pitcher. If they weren’t going to wade into the deep end of the free agent pool, it seemed like a trade involving a young, controllable hitter was a viable alternative. Cowser, among others, fit the bill for the type of player to center a deal around.
But theoreticals like that made less and less sense as the offseason progressed.
The Orioles weren’t involved in talks for any significant options in center, limited as they were. Luis Robert was traded to the Mets. Harrison Bader signed with the Giants. The only center fielder the O’s added to the organization was Leody Taveras, a World Series winner with a useful skillset, but far from an everyday big leaguer following two subpar seasons.
Internally, there wasn’t much to speak of either. Beavers could play center in a pinch but not every single day. Reed Trimble was protected from the Rule 5 Draft, and could be an interesting fourth outfielder option. Enrique Bradfield Jr. is likely to get a big league call at some point in 2026, but he still has plenty to prove. His glove and his legs are ready for the big leagues. His bat, on the other hand, needs some work. The 15 games he played in Norfolk last year did little to force the Orioles hand on a further promotion.
That leaves Cowser as the logical solution in center, a position in Baltimore that had belonged to Cedric Mullins for years. Cowser has plenty of experience in the role. He spent 47 games there in 2025, 45 games in ‘24, and 10 in ‘23. That doesn’t even account for his minor league work. While not as sterling as his performance in left field, advanced metrics like his movement in center. He has been worth 1 OAA in each of the last two seasons despite it not being his full-time position. And his throwing arm is one of the most feared in the league. Defensively, it should fit him just fine.
The bigger questions pertain to his bat. Orioles center fielders posted an 87 wRC+ in 2025, putting them in the bottom half of the league. Cowser himself had an 83 wRC+ overall and it dipped to 78 when he played center.
As constructed, the Orioles probably don’t need Cowser to bounce all the way back to his 2024 form, when he had 119 wRC+. They will be relying more on Henderson, Ward, Pete Alonso, and Jordan Westburg for most of their offense. But their center fielder will need to be closer to league average in order to be a viable everyday option. He has shown an ability to do that before, and if healthy he should be able to get there again.
The only worry is that there is no built in safety net for Cowser or the Orioles. They don’t have immediately viable solutions in-house, and there here aren’t many useful center fielders available via trade or free agency. Most, if not all, of their eggs are in the Cowser basket.
As far as bets go, it’s not a bad one. Injuries derailed his 2025 campaign, and by the time he came back the Orioles season was already down the drain. Now healthy and some pressure of expectations relieved, the O’s will be hoping their former top prospect can thrive in a new position.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 08: Ben Williamson #9 of the Seattle Mariners at bat during the game against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 08, 2025 in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Mariners 10-3. (Photo by Evan Bernstein/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Continuing the experiment where I’m drawing conversations from the Moose Tracks out to give them more space, Husky Mariner asked the other day if there’s room for both Ben Williamson and Colt Emerson on the 2026 Mariners roster. (We’re going to assume Opening Day, optimized roster, in this situation, not the Frankenlineups that sometimes get run out in the dog days due to injury or ineffectiveness.)
To me, I think either of those players would be given the keys to third and second base, respectively; neither of them are going to be on the roster to be bench players. That creates a series of conditions: in this case, Emerson has supplanted Cole Young at second base, which feels unlikely at this moment in time, although who knows how things will play out this spring. I will say I’m higher on Colt Emerson than I’ve ever been after considering his body of work this past season and spending time with him this weekend at Fan Fest. It’s maybe less of a stretch to consider Ben Williamson being permanently installed at third base, especially after Eugenio Suárez signed with the Reds yesterday, extinguishing the last ray of hope Mariners fans might have been stoking for a good vibes reunion.
This setup leaves Cole Young returned to Triple-A with his options, the platoon of Victor Robles/Luke Raley/Rob Refsnyder/Dominic Canzone taking starts in right field and DH, and Miles Mastrobuoni and Leo Rivas battling it out for the backup infielder/pinch runner role (plus either Knizner or Perada as backup catcher).
The idea of Cole Young sent back to Triple-A is one that’s already a little difficult for me to square given the club’s verbal commitment to Young, but I can easily see a world where Emerson challenges Young, who has a similar profile. Williamson might have the biggest question mark around his bat of the three, but his defensive acumen is such that it’s harder for me to see them going with Young and Emerson at second and third, even if that might provide the best offensive production. The bigger issue I have with this is how heavy that platoon is in right field/DH. Four players for two spots with only Raley being defensively versatile (all outfield positions, 1B) feels like a roster construction flaw. That’s not an issue that has anything to do with Young/Williamson/Emerson, though, so I’ve maybe drifted too far afield from the original question.
Also: Ryan Bliss. How does he figure into all of this?
Speaking to the media at Fan Fest yesterday, Justin Hollander reiterated that the club won’t be predicating decisions based on spring training alone. But it does feel like a monster spring from Emerson and Williamson could force some of these questions.
What is your prediction for the roster battles will see this spring, specifically on the infield?
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - OCTOBER 08: Riley Greene #31 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of game four of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on October 08, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Happy Monday, everyone! We’re getting ever closer to pitchers and catchers reporting, and we’re officially in the same month as Spring Training, so the offseason is almost over, and hot stove season is winding down. In fact, the few remaining players still looking for a team are almost entirely starting pitchers, so we could still see some moves from the Tigers before pitchers and catchers report, as the Tigers look to bolster their starting rotation (or their bullpen, depending on what they feel like focusing on).
Still some fun stories to get into to start the week, so we’ll just jump right into it.
Detroit Tigers News
The Tigers are celebrating Black History Month by celebrating the players who helped make the team great.
We’re celebrating the impact of African-American players in Tigers history throughout February, honoring their careers and lasting contributions as part of #BlackHistoryMonth! pic.twitter.com/HCBddvxtbk
Kind of feels like the Tigers could have afforded this…
Slugger Eugenio Suárez and the Cincinnati Reds are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract that includes a mutual option for the 2027 season, sources tell ESPN. The best bat left on the market goes to Cincinnati, where he's expected to get most of his at-bats at DH.
The Phillies can annoy us. There are things that they do that can get on our nerves, whether it be a questionable decision by the manager during a game (I’m still not over The Bunt), a trade that was made that returned virtually nothing (that’s all they got for Schilling?) or a season that ended worse than what we believed it would be.
So for today’s question, the question: what is something about the Phillies that still bothers you the most? For fans of a different age, this question could be answered different ways. Take me, for example. The Bunt that Rob Thomson called for may not have been the difference in the series against the Dodgers last year, but you have to wonder what might have been had they been able to score Nick Castellanos from second.
Maybe you’re still sore over Cliff Lee being unable to pitch a good Game 2 of the 2011 NLDS, a series that should have seen the Phillies go to, and win, the World Series.
Maybe it’s Black Friday in 1977 where Bruce Froemming had his eyes closed when deciding if Davey Lopes was safe or out.
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 3: Dodger Stadium is shown during the Atlanta Braves game against the Los Angeles Dodgers during an opening day game at Dodger Stadium on April 3, 2006 in Los Angeles, California. The Braves defeated the Dodgers 11-10. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) | Getty Images
So, I don’t know if I have been doing daily questions for over a year, but it feels like I have.
Meanwhile, a few days ago, the powers that be put together a set of generic questions that can be used throughout the month of February, and shared them with us. Some are redundant with things I’ve probably asked before. Some just kinda feel off to me. But, some, well, they make coming up with prompts easier since, well, I don’t have to. It’s just ye olde copy-paste and off we go.
This is one of those.
I don’t really know what angle people will take when they read it. I guess the most common is, “My team did/didn’t do X, so now I do/don’t expect Y.” But I guess you can be more literal. Like, I have two thoughts in response initially. I also have a ton more if I just think a bit. Here are a few from me:
2015: juiced ball time. Got the gears turning on what building a team meant in 2015 as opposed to the trend towards pitching dominance pre-2015.
2023: first year of the pitch clock. This is really literal but… before the pitch clock, I had a rhythm going where much baseball was watched while working or doing other stuff, and I had pitchers timed pretty well to be able to look up for the pitch and then go back to whatever I was doing in between pitches. The pitch clock completely ruined this; there’s now not enough time to actually do anything in between pitches. Some might say that’s the point, but it’s made it more that now baseball is on in the background while I do things that either prevent me from seeing each pitch, or that I don’t need to look to do (like washing dishes).
2006: Nothing to do with baseball, but this was my first season that started when I was at college. Before 2006, I watched basically every game from 2001-2005 because there wasn’t much impeding me. In 2006 I had to transition to lugging my laptop with MLB.tv around for day games, making arrangements at my part-time jobs to leave before games, and really started watching games as a secondary thing as opposed to appointment viewing.
Boston, MA - February 3: Boston Red Sox fans pose for a photo with mascots Wally and Tessie during the team's annual Truck Day outside of Fenway Park. (Photo by David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Hello and happy Monday, friends.
It’s not just any regular Monday, though…it’s Truck Day! Did Wally leave you any baseball equipment under your Truck Day Tree this year? Hope your work gives you the holiday today. If not, I guess time-and-a-half ain’t so bad.
While the rest of the sporting world will have its eyes on the Super Bowl in a few days, we’re more concerned about the fact that baseball returns in earnest this month. Pitchers and catchers will report to Fort Myers in eight days, and the full squad follows five days after that. We’re currently eighteen days off from the first game of Spring Training, and the World Baseball Classic will soon follow.
We’re almost there, gang.
Drop whatever you fancy in the comments below. Any plans for The Big Game™ this weekend? Are you gonna be out front of Fenway for Truck Day? What are you most excited for leading up to Opening Day? What is a horse shoe? What does a horse shoe do? Are there any horse socks? Is anybody listening to me?
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 1: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers dribbles the ball during the game against the New York Knicks on February 1, 2026 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Los Angeles Lakers visited MSG and returned home without a win.
Too bad, it turns out they ran into the hottest team in the league—that is, your New York Knicks.
Here’s a lot of what was said before and after yesterday’s affair.
Mike Brown says that 50/50 balls were a point of emphasis for the Knicks at halftime: pic.twitter.com/x6DhJjaR7a
“We’ve had a chance to practice a little bit. But we made changes a little earlier, we’ve gotten a little better with the changes. Guys have been communicating more, but they’re able to do that because they feel a little bit more comfortable with what we’re doing. Defensively, we made some changes. Offensively too. I think because we’ve had a chance to work at it a little bit, the guys have had a chance to get involved with it a little bit, the confidence is great. That’s growing as well.”
On offensive principles and ball movement:
“We talk about certain things offensively, playing with pace, touching the paint, and spray the ball. Our guys are unselfish, but they know when they draw a second defender that’s the right to find your teammate. We all need to keep trying to make the game easy for one another.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ handling of double teams:
“KAT did a nice job tonight. He’s gonna get doubled, they put a small guy on him a ton, and the one thing he has to do, just like all of us, is not let double teams or second defenders speed us up. The person who has two defenders on him needs help with the right spacing.”
On OG Anunoby and Josh Hart scoring decisively:
“They’re making quick decisions. OG, the ball’s hitting his hands and if the defender closes out short, he’s letting it fly. OG’s a great shooter. Josh has worked extremely hard on his shot too. There’s not a lot of hesitation from both those guys.”
On finding offense without plays called:
“They’re both getting out in transition, getting easy baskets, getting offensive rebounds, and cutting to score. There are a lot of ways you can impact the game scoring without having your number called.”
On defensive execution against the Lakers:
“Second half, we locked in better with the gameplan. It resulted in the Lakers scoring 44 points in that second half, which was huge for us.”
On the Knicks’ maturity and attention to detail:
“This is a mature group, and they’re competitive as well. We just tell them what we see and they go out and correct. It was more about being locked in and doing the little things better.”
On Jalen Brunson’s defense:
“Jalen’s a good defender. A lot of people sleep on that. He’s competitive, he’s feisty, he’s strong. If there was a definition of how to defend the ball in a pick-and-roll situation when you’re on the ball, that play would’ve been it.”
On Brunson’s defensive technique:
“He’s been impressive leading with his chest, showing his hands and trying to play defense the right way with a little chip on his shoulder. It’s good to see him doing it with the scoring load we put on him.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ All-Star case:
“I’m a firm believer that winning should be a big factor in it. We’re sitting second or third in the East right now, so we should have multiple guys on the team. Jalen definitely is in the MVP conversation, but we’ve got other guys on this team that have stepped up and helped in a lot of different ways. KAT, he’s leading us in rebounds, he’s second in scoring. I don’t know how many double-doubles he has, but that’s impactful when you’re talking about doing it in a winning situation. We should have, in my opinion, two or three guys, at least, on this All-Star team based on what our record is. Not only that, we were NBA Cup champions, so there are a lot of positives.”
On the Knicks improving thanks to rest and time in the gym:
“To be able to spend some time in the gym where you’re not worrying about playing a game has benefited us a ton. We’ve made some changes on both ends of the floor. The more time we have to continue working on it, the better we’ll be.”
On LeBron James’ longevity:
“He’s earned the right to play as long as he wants and he’s definitely doing it. And he’s doing it at a high level.”
🗣️ "HE CAN'T F*** WITH YOU"
Saquon Barkley and Karl-Anthony Towns were HYPED watching Shakur Stevenson's masterclass 😤
“It’s special. This one’s a real special one for sure. It’s better to be getting the win against the Lakers. I feel better about that right now than the All-Star thing, but as time goes, I’ll be able to digest it and understand the importance of it. Right now, I’m just happy we got the win.”
On his All-Star journey:
“It’s been six times and six different roads to get there. Every one is unique. This one is one I’ll cherish, but it’ll take time for me to digest it. It’s great to have a day like this that ends with a win.”
"We've got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another."
“It’s part of the journey. There’s highs and lows in this thing. You can’t get caught up on either end. Just take care of your work every day, try to be a good teammate, and the rest will take care of itself.”
On his role offensively:
“I always say I have the easy job. I’m on the receiving end. It’s guys like JB getting blitzed and having to make the right decision. My job is to catch the ball and shoot the ball.”
On playing under Mike Brown:
“Working with Mike has been great. Early on, I was just worried about making the team and helping us win. As we’ve spent more time together, I’m grateful for him and want to keep doing what I can to help us win.”
On the Knicks-wide buy-in:
“We’ve got a locker room full of guys who want to win and are willing to sacrifice for one another.”
Q: "What do you think of the way the guys responded when you held them accountable couple games ago?"
On focusing on distributing when shots aren’t falling:
“Shots not falling, you gotta impact the game somewhere else. I kept seeing two defenders, so I was trying to make the right play at the right time. The way we were moving the ball was great.”
On the defensive turnaround:
“The biggest part of our defense has been communication, physicality and accountability. Being on the string and on the same page has been the biggest part of our turnaround so far.”
On Karl-Anthony Towns’ rebounding impact:
“The rebounding, what he’s been doing has been great. We need that from him. When the ball’s not going in, he finds a way to impact the game. That’s really important for us.”
Josh Hart was asked about the one-year anniversary of the Luka Dončić trade:
"One thing I'm mad about that day was that it didn't happen earlier because Max Christie gave us 15 and we lost" 😂 pic.twitter.com/q2vbjesjAc
“That’s what we’re capable of. We have great depth, guys who can knock down shots and playmake. It shows we don’t have to force anything.”
On finding balance offensively:
“Sometimes I pass open shots to get guys involved, but I gotta make sure I’m aggressive too. Just trying to find a balance, and I’m in a good headspace right now.”
On playing with LeBron James:
“It was cool. I learned a lot about execution and taking care of your body. If it is his last game here, it’s obviously a historic career. Hopefully the fans give him a good ovation.”
OG Anunoby
On improved defensive communication and effort:
“It’s been executing, the effort, the intensity, the want-to. Everyone’s been on it.”
On the better defensive structure and planning of late:
“Effort can only do so much without having a plan. Having a plan and knowing what we’re all doing with the effort has made a difference.”
On finding comfort with the defensive adjustments:
“I think it was a little tougher for us how we used to do it, but I think it’s better for us now.”
Q: "What has playing at Madison Square Garden meant to you throughout your career?"
LeBron James: "Everything. It's the Mecca of basketball…It's the Big Apple…I've always loved these fans, love New York, respect, great knowledge of the game, they know what sports is about" pic.twitter.com/zmu8MfbQLx
“S—, I’ve been pretty good. Didn’t I just pass like 60,000 minutes? I’d hope I look pretty good.”
On what Madison Square Garden means to him:
“Everything. It’s the mecca of basketball. Being here at MSG, so many people have graced this floor. I hope I have a little small snippet of someone who came through here and made a small dent.”
On the end of his career:
“At the end of the day, everything has to come to an end at some point. You’re always going to miss it. This place will always have a special place in the journey.”
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Sacramento Kings at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 29, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Kings 113-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Just as things were looking more normal for the Sixers, we got some unexpected news. Because these are still your Philadelphia 76ers… After a couple of solid wins last week, we heard that Paul George has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy.
Nevertheless, the Sixers are at least entering a new week on a 3-0 win streak. And to kick off February, they’re facing the Clippers as they head to L.A. on Monday to begin their West Coast road trip.
The injury report is a short one for Philly. Joel Embiid is probable to play with right ankle injury management, and everyone else is available. For the Clippers, the big name to keep an eye on (apart from Bradley Beal who remains out for the season after undergoing hip surgery) is James Harden, who’s been day-to-day for personal reasons and was out on Sunday. We’ll have to wait until near tip-off to see the availability of Harden and the rest of the team.
The Clippers are going to be a bit of a shift from the Sixers’ latest outing against one of the worst teams in the league (New Orleans) on Saturday. After various injuries and a slow start hurt the Clippers to begin the season, they’ve been surging over the last six weeks. They now have the best record in the NBA since Dec. 20 at 17-4, boasting the league’s third-best offense and third-best net rating (+8.7) in this stretch.
One factor in the Sixers’ favor heading into Monday’s game is that they at least have the rest advantage, as the Clippers will be on the second night of a back-to-back after playing the Suns on Sunday (albeit cruising to a 117-93 win).
Kawhi Leonard has somewhat surprisingly just missed out on the All-Star game, but has been having a phenomenal season. To go along with his 6.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per game, the 34-year-old is averaging a career-high 27.6 points on his second-best true shooting percentage (62.5) ever. He’s taking significantly more threes than he has before too at 7.1 attempts a game, and still making them at a 39.1 percent clip. Adding that confident, high-volume threat from distance to go along with his efficiency at the rim and mid-range mastery (not to mention an improved free throw rate) just makes him that much harder to guard.
He’s taking more threes without an assist and creating more off the dribble than ever before this year, and doing so incredibly well.
Leonard’s now scored at least 20 points in each of his last 27 games, making it the longest streak of 20+ point games in his career.
Especially without George’s size and defense on the wing, the Sixers are really going to have their work cut out for them against Kawhi. While Dominick Barlow will be tied up against the athletic and pretty versatile scoring of John Collins, Kelly Oubre Jr. will have to lead the Leonard assignment.
Oubre is having yet another strong two-way season, so hopefully he’ll be able to throw enough length, quickness and high-energy physicality at Leonard to at least bother his drives and signature mid-range game a little. With Harden potentially still sidelined, the Sixers may need to throw a few doubles at Leonard just to try and mess with his rhythm and force other shooters to beat them.
The Clippers also have a rock-solid team defense — ranking seventh since Dec. 20 — from their perimeter play to Ivica Zubac (now backed up by Brook Lopez) holding down the fort at center. Finding clear driving lanes and generating open threes probably won’t be easy, especially as the attention George commanded at the arc is gone now.
With the form Embiid has been in lately, though, Zubac should be struggling as usual to contain his mid-range game and face-up play.
Winning this one on the road is going to be tricky, even with the Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. The Clips remain hot and the Sixers are left even lighter on shooting and wing defense without George. But let’s see if Embiid and Tyrese Maxey can muster up some magic to make things interesting.
Game Details
When: Monday, February 2, 10:00 p.m. ET Where: Intuit Dome, Inglewood, CA Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic Follow:@LibertyBallers
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 14: Juan Soto #22 of Team Dominican Republic makes a catch against Team Israel during their World Baseball Classic Pool D game at loanDepot park on March 14, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images
CLEVELAND, OHIO - AUGUST 17: A view of the New Era hat worn by Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves prior to a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on August 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images) | Diamond Images/Getty Images
This week could be a fun week for the remaining MLB free agents. With the start of Spring Training less than two weeks away for nearly all of baseball, many notable names remained unsigned. As a result, we could see several signings this week, and teams will continue to fill needs for 2026 and beyond. For the Braves, all eyes are on what starting pitching target they may finally agree to a deal with. Should be a news worthy week ahead.
Also coming up in the near future is the World Baseball Classic. However, the big storyline is more and more players learning they may not have the insurance coverage needed to make it sensible to participate. This includes being such a big for Pureto Rico that they may have to drop from the event.
Its Ground Hog Day and the Minnesota Timberwolves (31-19) are hoping to repeat their run of recent success as they take the court in Memphis against the Grizzlies (18-29) tonight on Peacock. For their part, Memphis is hoping February brings far different results as they are currently staring at an early start to their offseason.
Winners of four in a row, the T-Wolves now sit fifth in the Western Conference while the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies, on the other hand, have lost six straight to drop 3.5 games out of the final play-in spot out West.
This is the second half of a back-to-back in Memphis between these teams. Saturday, Anthony Edwards led the Timberwolves with 33 points to a 131-114 win. Rudy Gobert pulled down 16 rebounds and Julius Randle added 27 points. Ty Jerome scored 20 points in 20 minutes in the loss for the Grizzlies.
This is the third of four regular season meetings between these teams. Memphis took the first encounter of the season winning in Minneapolis, 116-110, on December 17. Following today’s game, these teams will meet again March 3 in Minneapolis.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
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Game Odds: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
The latest odds as of Monday courtesy of DraftKings:
Anthony Edwards (back) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Julius Randle (thumb) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Terrence Shannon (foot) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Memphis Grizzlies
Jaren Jackson Jr. (quad) is listed as questionable for tonight’s game
Ja Morant (elbow) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Santi Aldama (knee) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Jon Konchar (neck) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Zach Edey (ankle) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Brandon Clarke (calf) has been declared OUT for tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Timberwolves at Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are 9-15 at home this season
The Timberwolves are 14-11 on the road this season
The Grizzlies are 19-28 ATS this season
The Timberwolves are 23-27 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 20 of the Grizzlies’ 47 games this season (20-27)
The OVER has cashed in 24 of the Timberwolves’ 50 games this season (24-26)
Anthony Edwards was 14-16 from the foul line in Saturday’s win over Memphis
Jaren Jackson Jr. did not dress Saturday night against Minnesota
Jackson has recorded more than 6 rebounds in a game just twice in the last 10 games
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonight’s Timberwolves and Grizzlies’ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Timberwolves -7.5
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 229.5
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